If, for reasons of economy or other reasons, it shall be deemed
necessary by the municipal governing body to reduce the number of
full-time police officers in the Department, then the municipal governing
body shall furlough the person or persons, including probationers,
last appointed to the force. Such removal shall be accomplished by
furloughing in numerical order commencing with the person last appointed
until such reduction shall have been accomplished. In the event the
said police force shall again be increased, the employees furloughed
shall be reinstated in the order of their seniority in the service.
The provisions of this section as to reduction in force are not applicable
to the Chief of Police.